Feds Re-Indict Ex-Glaxo In House Lauren Stevens for Corporate Duty

Former GlaxoSmithKline general counsel Lauren Stevens has been re-indicted for obstructing a probe into Wellbutrin off-label marketing as part of her duties for the company.

Stevens' case has deep ramifications and has been closely watched. The question of just how much a GC can rely upon (and/or hide behind) outside counsel's advice will play out.

The prosecution may prove to be the first wave of a sea change in how federal prosecutors pursue not just companies, but company executives for wrongdoing.

Federal prosecutors again charged Lauren Stevens with four counts of making false statements, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to Glaxo's promotion of the anti-depressant drug for weight loss, which had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Reuters reports.

The first indictment of Lauren Stevens was dismissed in March following revelations of errors during the grand jury proceeding.

On Thursday, Stevens was charged again with four counts of making false statements, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to her then-company's promotion of the anti-depressant drug for weight loss, Reuters reports. Wellbutrin had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a weight loss drug.